Chapter 293

Chapter 293:
Her makeup was subtle but flawless, her lashes clearly salon-enhanced. Her lips carried a perfectly glossed pout. Her light brown curls were pinned back with a ribbon—every detail polished, every movement calculated to charm. She radiated youthful charm with just enough effort that it was almost suspicious.
Shaun’s frown deepened. “Tonight’s gathering isn’t really open.”
Rebecca pouted. “Why not? It’s just dinner, right? And I don’t eat much. We can split the bill if you want. Come on—what’s one more person?” It was clear she wasn’t leaving unless dragged out.
Stella, watching from the side, realized something—Rebecca might actually be useful. A convenient distraction. Anything to ease the tension she’d been trapped in since she walked into that room.
Before Shaun could shut her down again, Stella offered a small, polite smile. “Sure. Join us. There’s plenty of space.”
Rebecca turned to her, eyes lighting up. “Really? That’s so sweet of you, Sylvia. Thank you! Let’s go!”
She immediately tried to link arms with Shaun, but he subtly stepped aside. Rebecca either didn’t notice or chose not to care, still grinning as she followed along.
When the three of them returned to the private room, Sharon raised a brow at the unfamiliar face beside them. “Stel… who’s this?”
Sharon blinked in confusion, uncertain about what was happening.
Stella offered a calm explanation. “This is Rebecca—Mr. Becker’s friend. We ran into each other outside. She said the place was packed, so I figured, why not invite her to join us?”
Standing with a bright smile, Rebecca waved cheerfully. “Hi everyone! I’m Rebecca. Lovely to meet you. Since we’re sharing a meal, I hope we can all become friends.”
For a moment, Sharon didn’t know what to say. She shot Stella a subtle but annoyed look.
Still, with Rebecca already present, there was no polite way to ask her to leave. What had been planned as a quiet matchmaking dinner now felt more like a casual group hangout.
Your escape begins with
Before the food even arrived, Rebecca slid into the seat beside Shaun. With playful eyes on Stella, she said, “Ms. Gilbert, sitting around like this is kind of boring. Let’s play a game, what do you say?”
Stella met her gaze with a calm smile. “Why not?”
“Let’s play cards. Loser rotates out with the next person!” Rebecca declared, cheerfully buying a deck from the staff.
The first round featured Rebecca, Stella, and Sharon as the players.
They each drew their cards, and Rebecca made the first move.
She had always loved card games—they were a mix of wit, timing, and reading people. She was good at picking up subtle cues, often guessing her opponents’ hands with ease. Losses were rare for her.
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